Apparatus for the production of artificial thread



March 21, 1939. H. s, TOOLE ET AL APPARATUS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF ARTIFICIAL THREAD Filed Jan. 15, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS: Harr 51750112 March 21, H 5 TOQLE ET AL APPARATUS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF ARTIFICIAL THREAD 2 Shets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 15, 1936 INVENTORS. 'Harr 5. Yole Ira Ki/Eff ATTORNEY.

named Mar.21,19 39 v 2,150,951

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE APPARATUS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF ARTIFICIAL THREAD Harry S. Toole, Staunton, and Ira V. Hitt,

Waynesboro, Va., assignors, by mesne assignments, to E. I. du Pont de Nemonrs & Company, Wilmington, Del., a corporation of Delaware Application January 15, 1936, Serial No. 59,230 i 9 Claims. (01. 242-18) This invention relates to the production of arbouncing of the spindle coupled with the dimtificial thread and more particularly it relates to culty of maintaining spindle lengths and guide the production of artificial thread composed of groove spacing in exact alignment, together with organic cellulose derivatives such as cellulose esthe increase in weight of the thread built up on ters and ethers which have a smooth, regular the bobbin, has restricted the weight of yarn 5 external surface. cheeses. In general, a or pound package of In the dry spinning of cellulose derivative wound artificial thread is the upper limit at thread, the spinning solution is extruded conwhich a well formed package, free from bulging tinuously from a spinneret, and the resulting ends, overthrown threads and an excessive numthreads or filaments are led through a closed her of loops can be secured. 10

chamber for a distance which permits the sub- The prior art generally teaches that in the stantially complete evaporation of the solvent winding of cotton, woollen or other threads preemployed. The thread if desired may be subpared from discontinuous filaments or from filajected to treatment with a thread finishing comments having an uneven external surface, the

position and is then continuously fed to and package may best be produced by increasing the 15 wound up on a rotating bobbin. pressure between the bobbin and the surface It has been customary to collect the dried drive roll to secure'a smooth evenly wound packthread, or substantially dried thread, by winding age of comparatively large size. It has long the same by means of suitable thread traversing been desired to produce a comparatively large,

mechanism on a woo en bobbin which is rotated smooth evenly wound package containing threads 20 by peripheral contact with a surface drive roll, composed of organic cellulose derivatives by or winding the threads on pirns which are rowinding the artificial thread directly from the, tated on positive driven spindles and traversing dry spinning apparatus. However, artificial the thread on said pirns by means of bells or threads produced from organic cellulose derivacaps, such as, in cap spinning processes. tives comprise continuous filaments in substan- 25 In the winding of threads on wooden bobbins, tially parallel alignment, which filaments are suitable spindles are inserted longitudinally very even, smooth and slick on the external surthrough the centers of the bobbins to serve as face thereof, and c q n y it has etofore journal bearings, and the spindle ends or jourbeen found impossible to wind such thread dinals of the bobbins are placed in vertical starectly from the dry spinning operation into large 30 tionary guide grooves to hold the bobbins so that packages without producing bulging ends and they may rest on the surface drive rolls to be overthrown threads. In prior attempts to follow driven by the latter. These bobbins are freely the teaching of the art relating to winding of movable in a vertical direction, and as a conthread composed of discontinuous filaments by sequence any slight irregularity or unevenness increasing the-tension between the surface drive 3 in the surface of the wound thread, or eccentricroll and the bobbin as the thread layers build ity in the surface of the bobbin or in the density up on the package, it has always been found that of the wood of which the bobbins are usually as soon as a sizable package is formed the inner constructed, creates an unbalanced condition in thread layers will be pushed out from the ends the revolution of the spindle in the vertical guide of the package. Such a package is very unde- 40 grooves, with the result that the spindle periodi sirable for further processing due to entanglecally bounces or jumps upward due to the said ments of the thread layers at the bulged ends irregularities or eccentricities. It has furtherthereof. more been found that any irregularities in the It has now been found that a large, smooth 5 bobbins or in the thread wound thereon will evenly wound package free from bulging ends often cause a climbing of the bobbin due to presand overthrown threads and containing over two sure on the side walls of the vertical guide pounds of organic cellulose derivative thread can grooves by means of the spindle, and thereby be produced by winding the artificial thread dicause a jumping or bouncing of the bobbin relrectly,from the dry spinning apparatus.

ative to the drive roll. Obviously this bouncing It is therefore an object of this invention to 50 of the bobbin is very objectionable and attempts produce smooth, evenly wound packages containhave been made in the past to eliminate the ing over two pounds of organic cellulose derivasame. tive thread directly from the spinning operation.

It'has been found that in the winding of or- It is a further object of this invention to proganic cellulose derivative threads, the excessive duce smooth, evenly wound packages containing 55 over two pounds of organic cellulose derivative thread directly from the spinning operation and without material bouncing or jumping of. the package during the winding thereof.

It is a still further object of this invention to produce smooth, evenly wound packages contain-- ing over two pounds of organic cellulose derivative thread directly from the spinning operation by driving the bobbin on which the package is wound with a surface drive roll without increasing the pressure between the bobbin and the surface drive roll as the thread builds up on the bobbin.

Other objects of the invention, including apparatus for carrying out the above named ob jects, will appear hereinafter.

The objects of the invention may be accomplished in general, by the winding of organic'cellulose derivative thread on a removable bobbin rotatably positioned on a pivoted swinging arm, which swinging arm rests the bobbin on a surface drive roll for rotation thereby, and is provided with means for applying a lifting action to the arm at least sufficient to compensate for the increasing weight of the artificial thread as it builds up on the thread bobbin. v

The details of the invention will be more readily apparent by reference to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanving drawings illustrating certain specific modifications of the invention.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view showing a I paratus shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a side elevational view of a thread winding mechanism illustrating a modified form of counterbalancing means for compensating for the weight of the thread as it builds up' on the surface driven bobbin.

Referring to the drawings, reference numeral II designates generally a portion of a spinning cell of a dry spinning apparatus; the thread 14 issuing therefrom passes over guide rolls i2 and i8. The thread is then passed over a finishing roll 18 which may apply a finishing composition to the thread. This may be achieved, for example, by rotating roll I8 within a container 28 in which a thread treating composition is placed. The thread then passes over guide roll 22 and feed rolls 24 and 28, and thence to thread guide 28 which is pivotally mounted on the reciprocating thread traversing bar 82 by means of rod 88.

The thread layers 84 are built up on bobbin sleeve 88 which is removably positioned on freely rotatable roller 88. The roller 88 is preferably mounted on pivot pin 88 by the interposition of ball bearings so as to permit exceptionally free and smooth rotation of roller 88. The bobbin sleeve 88 may be formed of any desirable material such as, for example, molded resinous materials which are capable of being readily balanced dynamically with relation to the surface drive roller so that the said bobbin will operate smoothly and without bouncing. The roller 88 is' preferably provided with means for holding the removable bobbin sleeve 88 in a given position thereon so that the traversing thread guide 28 will always wind the layers of the thread on the bobbin sleeve 88 in a given predetermined position. The roller 88 and the bobbin sleeve 88, which is securely mounted on said roller but is removable therefrom, are drlvenby means of the surface drive roller 48 which is preferably driven at a constant rate of speed. The surface drive rollerg48 may be driven in any desired manner by means of shaft 4|. The pivot pin 88 is mounted and is provided at the end of said arm 48 with 4 a roller 48 which is freely rotatable on pivot pin 88. As the thread builds up on bobbin 88 the swing arm 42 will turn to the left hand position,

as indicated by dotted lines in Figure 1', whereby the lever 48 and roller 48 will be rotated upwardly. A rotatable bell crank lever 82 is pivoted at 88 in such a position that a pressure shoe 84 mounted thereon will be directed against roller 48 whereby to lift the same together with lever 48 and swing arm 42 and thereby compensate for the increased weight of the bobbin 38 and thread cake 84 resting on the surface drive roller 48. The pressure shoe 84 is directed against the roller 48 by means of spring 58 which is mounted between arm 88 of.lever 82 and fixed lug 82. The external surface of the pressure shoe 54 is preferably formed in the shape of an involute curve, or similar curve of increasing radius, so that as the pressure shoe 84 is rotated about pivot 88 by means of spring 88, the pressure directed against the roller 48 will be increased substantially in the same degree as the pressure increases due to the increased weight of the thread on the bobbin 88. The spring 58 may be made adjustable by mounting the same in an opening through fixed lug 82 and providing the projecting end of the spring with a threaded portion 84 and a nut 88 as is clearly shown in Figure 1. By adjusting the spring to vary the tension thereon it is therefore possible to vary the pressure directed by shoe 84 against roller 48. The swing arm 42 may if desired be provided with an extension handle 85 whereby the bobbin sleeve may be lifted manually out of contact with the surface drive roll 48.

Referring to Figure 3 of the drawings, the swing arm I8 is pivotally connected to a supporting base at I2, and is adapted to rest the bobbin sleeve 88 or thread layers 24 against the surface drive wheel 48 in the same manner as above defined with reference to Figures 1 and 2.

The swing arm I8 is provided with an extension I8 in the opposite direction from the pivot I2.

The extension I5 has a slot I4 formed therein, in which is adapted to be mounted a roller I8 which roller is freely rotatable about pivot I8 which in turn is fixedly mounted on bell crank lever 88. The bell crank lever 88 is pivoted at 82 to a supporting base and is provided with an oppositely extending arm 84 on which is positioned a weight 88. The weight 88 is mounted on the arm 84 in any desired manner and is preferably provided with means to permit it to be adjusted along the length of arm 84 wherebyto vary the lifting action on swing arm I8. The weight 88 will tend to push arm 84 of the bell crank lever downwardly and thereby rotate, in an upward direction, the roller I8 which roller is positioned within slot I4 and therefore will tend to rotate swing arm 18 in a direction away from the surface drlve roll 48.

In operation the thread, issuing continuously from the spinning cell is led over the guides and finishing rollers and fed to the reciprocating thread guide 28 and wound onto the rotating bobbin 88. It has been found particularlydecally reciprocating type. The grooved drum type traverse guide has been found to be inferior when used in combination with the above-described apparatus. As the thread builds up on bobbin 36 the swing arm 10 will be lifted with reference to drive roll 40, and the gradual increase in the weight of the yarn on the bobbin 36 and the consequent pressure increase between the bobbin 36 and the surface drive roll 40 will be compensated by a steadily increasing lifting force exerted by the pressure shoe 54 on roller 48 and arm 46 which is integral with swing arm 42. Although the force exerted by the tension spring 58 decreases slightly with the increased size of the package, nevertheless because of the involutely curved shape of the pressure shoe the lifting force applied to roller 48 and arm 46 is progressively increased by reason of the pressure shoe being gradually more effectively applied.

The outstanding advantage of this invention comprises the winding of a thread composed of an organic cellulose derivative having continuous filaments from a spinning cell with the formation of a uniformly wound package of unusually large size. It has long been desired to obtain such large packages directly from the spinning operation with cellulose derivative thread but has been found to be impossible heretofore due to the peculiarities of this particular type of thread. The package produced in the course of this invention is characterized from those formed heretofore, not only in its large size, but also in its being of a substantially uniform hardness throughout, and its being relatively free from bulged out ends and overthrown threads. In consequence of the production of the large size package, it is not necessary to stop the bobbin so frequently as is necessary in the prior art processes, and subsequent twisting or throwing operations involve considerably less labor and attention than in prior art processes. The quality of the yarn is also very materially improved by reason of the fact that less degradation results from the decreased amount of handling, the uniform pressure of winding, and the freedom from bouncing bobbins and vibrating spindles even at high winding speed. The yarn wound on the packages in accordance with the present invention contains a very much smaller number of knots per given yardage of thread due to the use of the large package, and in consequence of even pressure in winding whereby a smaller number of breaks occur in the thread. The elimination of many knots is obviously a great advantage in subsequent weaving and knitting operations in which the knots seriously interfere with the needles and frequently cause stoppage and expensive delays in the textile manufacturing operation.

Obviously many modifications and changes may be made in the above description without departing from the nature and spirit of the invention, and it is therefore to be understood that the invention is not to be limited thereto except as set forth in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In a thread winding apparatus, a positively driven surface drive roller, a bobbin positioned to rest bv gravity on said roller, means connected to said bobbin whereby to lift the same, means positioned on said apparatus to co-act with said first-named means to exert a lifting force on said bobbin, said two above-named means so constructed and arranged that a constant force applied to said second-named means will progressively exert an increasing lifting action on said bobbin as the thread builds up on the latter, and means for actuating said second-named means.

2. In a thread winding apparatus, a positively driven surface drive roller, a bobbin positioned to rest by gravity on said roller, means connected to said bobbin whereby to lift the same, means positioned on said apparatus to co-act with said first-named means to exert a lifting force on said bobbin, said two above-named means so constructed and arranged that a constant force applied to said second-named means will progressively exert an increasing lifting action on said bobbin as the thread builds up on the latter, and spring means for actuating said secondnamed means.

3. In a thread winding apparatus, a positively driven surface drive roller, a bobbin positioned to rest by gravity on saidroller, means connected to said bobbin whereby to lift the same, means positioned on said apparatus to co-act with said first-named means to exert a lifting force on said bobbin, said two abovenamed means so constructed and arranged that a constant force applied to said second-named means will progressively exert an increasing lifting action on said bobbin as the thread builds up on the latter, and weight means for actuating said second-named means.

4. In a thread winding apparatus, a positively driven surface drive roller, a bobbin positioned to rest by gravity on said roller, means connected to said bobbin whereby to lift the same, leverage means positioned on said apparatus to co-act with said first-named means to exert a lifting force on said bobbin, said two above-named means so constructed and arranged that a constant force applied to said'second-named means will progressively exert an increasing lifting action on said bobbin as the thread builds up on the latter, and means for actuating said second named means.

5. In a thread winding apparatus, a positively driven surface drive roller, a bobbin positioned to rest by gravity on said roller, means connected to said bobbin whereby to lift the same, a rotatable member positioned on said apparatus to coact with said means to exert a lifting force on said bobbin, said means and member so constructed and arranged that a constant force applied to said member will progressively exert an increasing lifting action on said bobbin as the thread builds up on the latter, and means for actuating swing arm, a bobbin freely rotatably mounted on said swing arm, said swing arm positioned, relative to said roller, to permit said bobbin to rest on said roller by gravity, means connected to said swing arm whereby to lift the same, means positioned on said apparatus to co-act with said first-named means to exert a. lifting force on said bobbin, said two above-named means so constructed and arranged that a constant force applied to said member will progressively exert an increasing lifting action on said swing arm as the thread builds up on the bobbin, and means for actuating said second-named means.

'7. In a thread winding apparatus, a positively driven surface drive roller, a bobbin positioned to rest by gravity on said roller, means connected to said bobbin whereby to lift the same, a rotatable member having a curved surface of increasing radius with respect to its axis, said member mounted on said apparatus with the to said bobbin whereby to liift the same, a rotatable member having an involute curved suriace of increasing radius with respect to its axis, said member mounted on said apparatus with the said curved surface positioned to co-act with said means to exert a lifting force on said bobbin, said member and means so constructed and arranged that a constant force applied to said member will progressively exert an increasing lifting action on said bobbin as the thread builds up on the latter, and means for rotating said member. v V

9. In a thread winding apparatus, a positively driven surface drive roller, a bobbin, said bobbin mounted to press against said roller, means connected to said bobbin whereby to move the same away from said roller, means positioned on said apparatus to co-act with said first-named means to exert a moving force on said bobbin away from said roller whereby to reduce the pressure between bobbin and roller, said two above-named means so constructedand arranged that a constant force applied to said second-named means will progressively exert an increasing moving force on said bobbin away from said roller as the thread builds up on said bobbin, and means for actuating said second-named means.

HARRY S. TOOLE. so 

